Announced on the opening day, this “farmers choice’’ award is presented to the most outstanding new piece of agricultural equipment exhibited at the Henty Machinery Field Days.

Machine of the Year chairman Matt Bergmeier said agricultural companies were encouraged to enter the awards.

Judged by an independent panel of regional primary producers, the awards cater for all machines on site released into the Australian market in the 12 months prior to the field days.

Judging criteria includes the machine’s purpose and suitability, scope of application, construction (durability and design), ease of maintenance and service, ease of operation and adjustment, availability of parts and overall value for money.

Graytill owner Dave Grayling, of Wellington, NSW, has entered his tipping ATV trailer in the awards – last year he competed with the GT 100 Series air seeder.

“We get a lot of people coming to our site as they have heard about our entry in the Machine of the Year, and have come to check it out,’’ Mr Gayling said.

He designed and manufactured the tipping trailer after family members expressed difficulty finding a lightweight tipping trailer the same width as a quad bike.

Last year, the award was won by Berrima Engineering’s Berrima BR1200 Rollerbar Hay Rake. Highly commended was the automatic sheep handler entered by Olsson Ag-Clipex.

“Open to national and international entries, the award caters for any new or innovative machine launched on the Australian market,’’ Mr Bergmeier said.

Additional accolades presented over the field days are the Australian Tractor and Machinery Association Award for the best new Australian made machine.

It is judged and presented on the final day of the field days.

The Land-NSW Farmers Association Farm Inventor Award is free to any inventor to enter.

Entries must be innovative, easy to manufacture and provide a solution for Australian agriculture.